St. Louis Metro completes UMSL South MetroLink Station Interlocking Project

The transit authority said the interlocking project will reduced operations and maintenance costs, as well as shorten delays for customers during scheduled and unplanned service disruptions.St. Louis Metro flickr

St. Louis Metro completed its $10-million light-rail interlocking project near the UMSL South MetroLink Station, located at 7798 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis County, Ms.

The project involved the installation of a new universal crossover between North Hanley and Page streets, allowing trains to cross from one track to the other. The construction of the new interlocking system will give Metro the ability to support single track operations. Prior to the construction of the UMSL South crossover, the closest interlocking system was four miles away.

The project was funded by approximately $8.5 million dollars in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds, $1.1 million in other federal funding and $289,000 in local financing; the project helped to create 270 jobs.

Metro President and CEO John Nations, said, "This new interlocking system not only represents a $10-million investment in the economy, but is also playing an important role in Metro's mission to improve our regional infrastructure and build a better transit system for the citizens of the St. Louis region."